The Lowdown On Undershirts, Sandal Converts

Yes, it's that time once again: The day I feature your fashion questions. Whatever the question, I would love to answer each one personally, and with as much detail as possible. But because of the overwhelming amount of inquiries, I will highlight each month's most interesting; your e-mail may even be answered in the process.

This week you'll find answers to questions on wearing undershirts, the best colors for fair-skinned men, sporting sandals, and matching a striped shirt with a striped tie.

getting over undershirts

Hi Chris,

I recently landed my first real office job and noticed that a lot of my colleagues wear T-shirts or "wife-beaters" underneath their dress shirts. What's the deal? Is it fashionable, or not, to wear something underneath a dress shirt? And if it is, are there any rules to follow when picking which one to wear?

Recently Hired — Cheyenne, WY

Men wear undershirts mainly for three reasons:

Firstly, men who tend to sweat excessively wear undershirts to prevent sweat stains from becoming visible throughout the day. Other guys wear them to save on dry cleaning because undershirts help keep the sweat and other natural body odors from penetrating the shirt, keeping it clean for a longer amount of time. Finally, some guys wear undershirts out of sheer comfort, as they tend to feel 'naked' when they're not wearing anything under their dress shirts.

Personally, I don't think men should wear anything underneath their collared shirts (unless they really need to for whatever reason) — it simply does not look good. But if you do wear a T or sleeveless shirt (also known as a wife-beater) underneath your dress shirt, then the general rule is that it should be as sheer or thin as possible.

That said, always match the color of your undershirt with your dress shirt; for example, if you're wearing a pink dress shirt, wear a pink undershirt. Also, steer clear of undershirts that feature thicker and more apparent seams around the arms and collar because they tend to stand out more. Finally, you should wear a low-cut V-neck undershirt when wearing a dress shirt sans tie.

shady skin tone

I'm of Swedish descent, and have fair skin and reddish/blond hair. I have had two girlfriends who have given me opposite advice on what colors look good on me. One says that dark colors are more flattering, while the other claims that light colors look better on me. Once and for all, from a professional point of view, what colors look better on someone with my skin and hair color?

Thank you,Mr. B.

This situation calls for an icebreaker my friend... you need to start dating a fashionable girl, pronto. In all seriousness, colors are very subjective and unique to each individual; it depends on the person's eye, hair and skin color, as well as on his personal dressing style. But the fact that you have fair hair and light skin is enough information for me to provide you with these general guidelines:

First of all, try to avoid wearing bold colors such as red or orange because they tend to be unflattering on men with light features. Instead, opt for cooler colors such as blue or any shade of light gray. You should also take a whole afternoon to go shopping and try on every color imaginable. Get a friend to tag along (preferably one who's honest and has good fashion sense) and make a mental note of the shades that make you look your best. Good luck.